High performance, low toxicity hypergolic fuel

Abstract

Disclosed is a group of tertiary amine azides useful as hypergolic fuels for hypergolic bipropellant mixtures. The fuels provide higher density impulses than monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) but are less toxic and have lower vapor pressures that MMH. In addition, the fuels have shorter ignition delay times than dimethylaminoethylazide (DMAZ) and other potential reduced toxicity replacements for MMH.

1. A hypergolic bipropellant combination comprising an oxidizer and a fuel, wherein the fuel comprises an amine azide chemical having the structure (CH3)2N—R1, and wherein R1 is 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       2. The hypergolic bipropellant combination of  claim 1  further comprising a gellant mixed with the fuel or oxidizer. 
     
     
       3. The hypergolic bipropellant combination of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is selected from IRFNA, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen tetroxide, and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
       4. The hypergolic bipropellant combination of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is a mixture comprising the amino azide chemical as an additive.